A friend of mine directed me to Heta Pandit's book titled 'Grinding Stories Retold: Songs from Goa', a nuanced documentation of the songs from rural Goa sung in unison by women while grinding grains.
The songs in Marathi and Konkani are colloquially known as 'Oviyos' that can still be heard in some tiny Christian settlements (gavdas) in South Goa. They narrate tales that impact and affect their humble yet intricate lives. Pandit also mentions how the Portuguese had banned singing in the native Konkani in the 17th century but that did not deter the singers.
Prior to Heta's book Hema Rairkar and social activist Guy Poitevin together recorded 100,000 folk songs by women from the villages of Maharashtra who sing similar grinding songs that make up the 'Grindmill Songs Project. They recorded, transcribed and translated these songs over 20 years.
Oviyos once entertained, educated, informed and touched many lives. Every circle of the grinding stone and every lyric got them closer - a medium for women to express themselves through the oldest mode of entertainment. These traditions shape our collective identity and enhance communal ties, which seems to be dwindling with lesser need for humans to be physically connected.